Located 30kms North of Madras, and 4kms North East of Minjur in a small village away from the noise is the Ranganatha Swamy temple in Devadhanam, one that dates over a 1000 years to the rule of the Chalukya kings and situated on a large sand mound.
Temple History
Chalukya rulers who visited Srirangam wanted to recreate an archa-vigraha, within their empire, similar to the sleeping Ranganatha. They came back here and constructed an archa-vigraha even bigger than the one in Srirangam. Hence, this temple is also referred to as Vada Srirangam (North Srirangam).
Lord in Bhoga Sayanam
The Lord is facing east having the measuring vessel (Padi) as his pillow with his right hand placed over it. The story goes that tired of measuring the paddy during the harvest season, Lord Ranganatha is believed to have relaxed his head on the same grain measure ( One has seen a similar kind of story relating to the Sarangapani temple where Thirumazhisai Azhvaar enquires the sleeping Aravamudhan if he is tired after his long walk and requests the Lord to give him darshan).
Moolavar archa-vigraha made out of Saligramam
18feet long- 5ft high Lord Ranganatha is seen sleeping on the serpent bed with 3 folds formed by the 5 headed Adisesha., with the right hand of the Lord placed beneath his head and the left hand stretched forward.
The moolavar deity is made out of Saligrama stones. Even the jewels of the sleeping lord are of Saligrama stone, the only one of its kind in ranganatha temples. Hence, there is no Thirumanjanam for the Moolavar Lord, only oil anointment.
At the feet of Lord Ranganatha are Sri devi and Bhoo devi. Anjaneya is also seen with folded palms along with Maha Rishi Thumburu inside the sanctum.
There are separate shrines for Ranganayaki Thayar and Andal (south-west and north-west of the sanctum sanctorum)
Snake Hill behind the Sanctum
On the Western side of the temple behind the sanctum is a snake hill inside which is believed to reside a snake. The belief is that this snake protects the temple and the devotees who visit here.
Prarthana Sthalam
A visit to the temple is said to provide immediate job opportunities, help in marriages and progeny.
Festivals
Rama Navami, Panguni Uthiram, Vaikunta Ekadesi are celebrated here but there is no procession of the deities.
Quick Facts
Moolavar : Lord Ranganatha in Bhoga Sayanam facing East
Thaayar : Ranganayaki Thaayar
Time : 7.00AM – 11.00AM and 4.00PM – 7.00PM
Priest : Sridhar Bhattar @ 97868 66895
How to reach there ?
Take a Sub-Urban train from Chennai Central and get down at Minjur (27kms- 45minutes) – Gummudipoondi section. From Minjur, take a share auto/ mini bus on the Eastern Side just outside the station to reach the temple in about 20-30minutes. Currently the 4 km road is in a very bad shape.
Bus 56D runs between Broadway ( Parrys Corner) and Minjur. It will take about 1 ½ hours to reach Minjur by bus from Chennai.
The temple is about 7kms South East of Ponneri (there are buses every hour or so from Ponneri)
Source:
http://prtraveller.blogspot.com/
From Anuppampattu Railway Station, the temple is about 2 KMs distance on the eastern side. No auto/share-auto/taxi/bus will be available; only by walk one has to reach there and come back to the station.